Process for extracting vanadium from vanadium ores.



vanadium ores.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD BOERICKE, or VANAJJIUM, COLORADO.

PROCESS FOR EXTRAGTING VANADIUM VANADI UM OBES.

110 Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 28, 1914:.

Application filed January 20, 1514. Serial No. 813,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD Boiinioxn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vanadium, in the county of San Miguel and State of Colorado, have invented a certain the heat of the furnace causes the breaking up of the sodium chlorid into chlorin and sodium, the former passing out 'of the furnace while the latter is left free to combine with the vanadium in the ore to produce sodium vanadate. As a comparatively high heat is essential to secure the breaking up of the sodium chlorid, the cost of fuel incident to the process is a very considerable item, and as the mixture must be subjected application to a long heat the furnace capacity is necessarily limited. My invention has for its principal object the provision of a process wherein the objections to-the old processas heretofore cited are avoided and wherein the vanadium values of the ore may be extracted at a lower heat and in a Shorter time than is required by the old process.

In the practice of one form of my process (described and claimed in my co-pending Serialv No. 186,706, filed March 27th, 1912) I add to the usual mixture of ore and sodiumchlorid metallic sulfids for the production of sulfates,'or a direct addition of sulfate in anypercentage which the case may require; for instance by the addition of 1% of iron sulfate to the ordinary mixture of ore and sodium chlorid I have effected a saving of fuel of 50% and at the same time have increased the capacity of the furnace nearly 100% without'seriously affecting the yield of soluble vanadates. Where the vanadiumin the ores is of such a nature as to require oxidation my'invention is of especial benefit, owing to the free liberation of chlorin which is a strong oxidizing'agent.

In" the case of iron sulfate the reaction would be shown by the following formular- The. chlorin effects the oxidation of the ore at a comparatively low temperature, and the excess of sodium chlorid used combines readily to form a soluble vanadate. The ferric oxid remains insoluble. In case a sulfid should be used in place of the sulfate above mentioned the sulfid would be oxidized to the sulfate in the heat of the furnace after which the above reaction would take place, so that a metallic sulfate is utilized in the reduction even when the reduction starts with a sulfid, and it will be understood that my invention is generic and "includes the use of both the sulfate and the sulfid.

My experience also indicates that the reaction with the substances above stated may follow a somewhat different course than that indicated, although taking place at the same time. This reaction I believe to be as follows:

The sodium meta-vanadate (NaVO thus formed is nonvolatile and soluble.

Where the vanadium ore to be reduced is V 0 instead of V 0 the reaction is as follows:

tions being as follows:

When sulfuric acid (H 50 is used inis as follows:

\Vhen iron pyrites (F PS is used, the refrom vanadium ores, which conslsts lnmixaction is as follows:

to form FeS and partly burns off as S0,.

The FeS then reacts in the same Way as FeS the reaction being as follows:

lVhat I claim is:

1. The process of extracting vanadium from vanadium ores, Which consists in mixing the said ore With sodium chlorid and heating sufficiently. in the presence of sulfur to free the sodium and chlorin, Without volatilizing the vanadium, and permitting the sodium to unite with the vanadium forming a soluble sodium vanadate.

2. The process of extracting vanadium ing the said ore With sodium chlorid and a compound of sulfur and applying heat, but without volatilizing the vanadium and permitti'ngthe sodium to unite with the vanadium, forming a soluble sodium-vanadate.

The process of extracting vanadium from vanadium ores, which consists in mixing the said ore with sodium chlorid and, a non-metallic compound of sulfur and apply ing heat, but without volatilizing the vanadium and permitting the sodium to unite with the vanadium, forming a soluble sodium vanadate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the twosubscribed Witnesses.

HAROLD BOERIGKE. lVitnesses JAs. E. BIRCH, A. M. REDFERN-. 

